Colchicum autumnale cultivation methods and precautions
Colchicum autumnale is a herbaceous bulbous flower native to Europe and the Mediterranean coast. When it blooms, it is pink or purplish-red, very beautiful and dignified. Since seeds and bulbs were introduced from abroad in the 1970s, it has become widely popular in China, and is now commonly used in gardens for rock gardens or flower beds. Most of them bloom in autumn without growing leaves, sending up flowers directly from the underground stem, and enjoy the reputation of “underground flower”. Qinnongwang today brings you the cultivation methods for Colchicum autumnale.
Colchicum autumnale can be cultivated in two ways: soil-grown and water-grown. Qinnongwang here introduces the two cultivation methods separately for everyone.
I. Cultivation methods for soil-grown Colchicum autumnale
1. Soil
When cultivating Colchicum autumnale, it is best to choose sandy soil with relatively good drainage and relatively high fertility.
2. Watering
When cultivating Colchicum autumnale, the amount of watering should differ according to the season. The specific methods are as follows:
In summer, reduce the amount of watering for Colchicum autumnale, because in summer Colchicum autumnale prefers a hot and dry environment.
In autumn, continuous autumn rain is likely, and at this time the anthers of Colchicum autumnale are easily infected by pathogens, and it is also easy to cause bulb rot. At this time, it is best to move Colchicum autumnale indoors and control the amount of watering to prevent water accumulation and other situations.
In winter, Colchicum autumnale prefers a moist environment, so it can be watered more at this time. Colchicum autumnale is relatively resistant to severe cold, so no special cold protection work is needed.
II. Cultivation methods for water-grown Colchicum autumnale
When planting water-grown Colchicum autumnale, first peel off the brown tunica of the prepared Colchicum autumnale bulb until the ivory-white part is exposed. Then cut a cross on the upper part of the bulb, cutting gently so as not to damage the flower buds. After that, soak the bulb with the cut side facing down overnight.
Next, formally plant the bulb into a water basin, with water covering about half of the bulb. Generally, the water needs to be changed once every 1-2 days, and the temperature of the growing environment for Colchicum autumnale is best kept at 10-18 degrees. At this time, good ventilation should also be maintained, and there should be sufficient sunlight. When growing indoors, note that during the growth period Colchicum autumnale must not be exposed to light at night. Generally, it takes 40-60 days to bloom.
The above are the cultivation methods for Colchicum autumnale. Here Qinnongwang also reminds everyone that the flowers and bulbs of Colchicum autumnale contain a variety of highly toxic alkaloids, including lycorine, galanthamine, colchicine, and others.